“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Piglet noticed that even though he had a Very Small Heart, it could hold a rather large amount of Gratitude.” – A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
WRITE A FEW THANK YOU NOTES & FEEL BETTER IN THE MORNING
Question #1: Are you grateful? Do you live a life concentrating on the good in your life; the good people who have contributed to where you are and who you are?
Question #2: Do you express thanks appropriately and regularly? – through cards, gifts, gestures and the spoken word? Studies now show that doing both will increase our wellbeing, and benefit us physically, mentally, spiritual and emotionally.
According to research studies, we should focus on gratitude and express gratitude daily, if not constantly. When we are grateful, we are unselfish, less envious, happier, healthier, have more friendships, have better relationships, improved sleep, and more.
We are, simply, HAPPIER. When your mom asked you to write that note to grandma for her gift, who knew it was for more than etiquette purposes!? According to www.happierhuman.com, there are 31 benefits of gratitude that the author quantified from studying research on gratitude.
Ask yourself who has helped you lately, contributed to your wellbeing, advanced your life, or enhanced your life? Without acknowledgement from you, two things happen:
1. Those good folks do not know you appreciate them.
2. You do not gain from the many benefits of sharing your gratitude and focusing on them, rather than yourself.
Start or end your day by focusing on at least 5 things you are grateful for. Express those things in your daily life. WRITE A NOTE. SPEAK TO THEM DIRECTLY. TELL SOMEONE ELSE HOW APPRECIATIVE YOU ARE. BE grateful and EXPRESS gratefulness.
In 2013, that expression can be via text, Facebook or Twitter, along with the spoken word, but who will ever say that they didn’t benefit from giving or receiving a kind word or expression?
And if everyone starts to play this “Gratefulness Game,” thank you notes will be flying, US Postal Service rates may stop going up, and you might actually find out that that gift you sent was received and enjoyed, after all.